NAIROBI, Kenya – DP Party leader Justin Muturi has questioned Kenya’s preparedness for Ebola, asking why airport screening did not trigger further medical assessment after a suspected patient who had reportedly been ill for about a month travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Kampala to Nairobi.
In a statement, Muturi said Kenya had received months of warning about the Ebola outbreak and had announced enhanced border surveillance and preparedness measures.
He also recalled that Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale had told Parliament that Sh2.6 billion was required to prepare for the first 100 Ebola cases.
Muturi Questions JKIA Screening
Muturi said the patient reportedly received treatment at several health facilities in the DRC before travelling to Kampala and subsequently flying to Nairobi.
According to Muturi, the traveller underwent routine Port Health screening and immigration procedures at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport before being taken to Nairobi Hospital by people accompanying him.
Doctors at the hospital later identified the danger and conducted tests that confirmed the infection, according to the account cited by Muturi.
He questioned whether the airport response was adequate given the reported travel and illness history.
“If the system was ready, why did the airport screening not trigger further assessment?” Muturi asked.
He argued that preparedness should be assessed by how authorities respond when a suspected case actually enters the country rather than by official announcements and budget allocations.
Warning Over Ebola And Elections
Muturi also drew parallels with previous Ebola outbreaks in the DRC, citing the postponement of voting in Beni and Butembo during the 2018 outbreak.
He said the decision affected more than 1.2 million registered voters and was criticised by opposition leaders, activists and civil-society groups.
Residents in the affected areas subsequently staged symbolic elections in protest, according to Muturi.
He further pointed to restrictions on political meetings and demonstrations during another Ebola outbreak in the DRC in 2026, saying the measures triggered accusations from opposition and civil-society actors that public-health powers were being used to restrict dissent.
Muturi acknowledged that not every allegation was necessarily justified but argued that the experience demonstrated the potential political consequences when an epidemic coincides with an election period.
Muturi Calls For Transparent Health Measures
With Kenya approaching the 2027 General Election, Muturi said any restrictions introduced to contain Ebola should be based on clearly explained medical evidence.
He called for the government to specify the geographical areas affected by restrictions, set clear time limits and apply the measures equally to government and opposition actors.
Muturi said Kenya’s health response should protect the public while maintaining transparency and respecting democratic freedoms.
He warned that a public-health emergency should not develop into a democratic crisis, particularly if restrictions on movement, political meetings or rallies become necessary.
The former CS’s comments come amid heightened public attention on Kenya’s Ebola surveillance and preparedness following the confirmation of an imported case linked to travel from the DRC.
